Angie Baker, 33,  suffered eighteen miscarriages in thirteen years. Then came her little miracle, Raiya, born this past December.

This BBC article is sparing with details, and I want to know more of the story. Honestly, I don’t know how I feel about it. I mean, my first reaction is, “Wow. That is amazing. What a miracle. She must be so happy.”

Then I think she must have suffered so much, physically, emotionally, and relationally. How did she cope, and what drove her to keep trying? I, with my husband, suffer the painful waiting game of infertility, but we have yet to conceive, and I’ve never miscarried, so I can’t put myself precisely in her place. Does she have a husband or partner to support her? Why isn’t he mentioned in the BBC’s story?

Further, how did she not hear of FertilityCare and NaProTechnology? I mean, thirteen years! Perhaps she tried charting and working with a Creighton Medical Consultant. After all, Creighton and NaPro bring much healing and happiness to women and families, particularly those hoping to conceive, but it’s not a silver bullet. Then again, perhaps she was not able to come up with the money since the England has socialized health care? But there are FertilityCare Practitioners and medical consultants in the UK and Ireland, and many, many people without immense financial means find a way to make it work.

In the end, she found a specialist, Dr. Hassan Shehata, who was able to diagnose and treat her condition, having an unusually high amount of Natural Killer Cells.

Interesting closing note: Her little girl’s name is Raiya, which is a form of Regina, a name for the Blessed Mother. Also, she was born on December 9, the feast of Old Testament Hannah, who suffered from infertility, and who’s prayer for a child was answered.

(H/T to Hannah’s Tears Apostolate blog for the article.)

Angie’s story elsewhere:

• Epsom & St. Helier Hospital Site
• UK’s Daily Mail
• Metro.co.uk Online Magazine